Thirty Days Late

Grace Austen is a farm owner in Virginia in the 1930's. The land was left to her and her 10 year old brother, Henry, when their father died. Since the farm was not as successful as in her father's day, Grace lived with the constant fear that any day the bank would repossess the land and she and Henry would have to leave.

Nathaniel Sampson was president of a bank in Richmond, Virginia. His father had been president of the bank before him. He did not like the part of his job where he had to serve papers to folks to evict them, but it was a job that had to be done.

While on his way to the Austen farm, Nathaniel ran into a severe rainstorm. He also tried to not run over a squirrel, and ended up flipping his car over. When he woke up after the accident, he was being taken care of by Grace. She and Henry had found Nathaniel as they were returning home from town.

Over the days he stays with them, Nathaniel loses his heart not only to Grace, but also to Henry and the life they have. But Grace and Nathaniel must first get over being "enemies" and come to terms with one another.

This is a sweet story that makes you feel for the characters by either aching for them, laughing with them or clenching your fists at them. For me, I found myself mostly smiling as I watched Grace and Nathaniel fall in love. I enjoyed having it left to my imagination what sort of "night" Grace and Nathaniel had together, instead of having it written out for me.

Reviewed by: Kathy